My E9 2800cs restoration journal

[tracer bullet]

Originally Posted by MPOWER5266

It also made the antenna come up.

Don't see that often anymore!

[chassis]

Nice update. Love the retracting antenna.

[BeEmVe]

Originally Posted by MPOWER5266

Small update but the carpet should be in today. We hooked up the radio and it comes on.

Ooooh FM tooo.

[MPOWER5266]

Originally Posted by tracer bullet

Don't see that often anymore!

It was probably a big deal in 71. Haha.

Didnt do too much on the car this weekend. The carpet came in so it is laying on the shop floor to flatten out, I forgot to grab a pic. We did get the fake autozone stick on grills installed. HAHA.

Untitled by Nick Wood, on Flickr

Untitled by Nick Wood, on Flickr

After posting the photo above on an E9 group, I was notified that these are supposed to have black vinyl behind them so they are likely coming off.

We did install one of the wheels but noticed the lug nuts are wrong, so new lugs are on order.

Untitled by Nick Wood, on Flickr

So much better than the gold ones. Anyway I am hoping for more this week, and I am trying to take Friday off work to get some stuff done on the car.

[MPOWER5266]

Small updates on the E9 as usual. I feel like this will be the norm until its done, all the really big stuff is down and we are just buttoning stuff up now. We started putting the carpets in this weekend by gluing down all the trim bits.

Untitled by Nick Wood, on Flickr

Untitled by Nick Wood, on Flickr

The center section isnt glued down yet in this photo, it was just a test fit. I like the color, I cant wait to see what it looks like with the seats installed.

Untitled by Nick Wood, on Flickr

I am worried about the steering wheel looking a little rough and out of place with the interior refreshed, I may have to find a nardi for it.

I also popped one of the center caps on the wheel just to see how its going to look. MUUUUUUCH better than the gold thangs.

Untitled by Nick Wood, on Flickr

[chassis]

Looking great. With the new carpet and other trim replacements, this will smell like a new car!

I like the perforated vinyl steering wheel cover, it's period. If it's not egregiously nasty, I would go with it.

[MPOWER5266]

Originally Posted by chassis

Looking great. With the new carpet and other trim replacements, this will smell like a new car!

I like the perforated vinyl steering wheel cover, it's period. If it's not egregiously nasty, I would go with it.

I may try to clean it but I really want a Nardi, its just so much for the correct one.

Another super small update.

Got it buttoned up around the tunnel.

Untitled by Nick Wood, on Flickr

And the passenger side laid out. We may use Velcro to hold this in rather than gluing it.

Untitled by Nick Wood, on Flickr

Its getting really close to the finish line.

Got a few more pics since posting this.

Untitled by Nick Wood, on Flickr

Untitled by Nick Wood, on Flickr

And some new shoes.

Untitled by Nick Wood, on Flickr

Untitled by Nick Wood, on Flickr

[MPOWER5266]

Small update.

We got started on the AC and center console install.

Untitled by Nick Wood, on Flickr

Finally found a thermostat that would work after ordering like 6 of them. Apparently this is just a universal part but it was tough finding one with the correct tube and shaft diameter.

Untitled by Nick Wood, on Flickr

And cleaned the steering wheel wrap. Sadly my dad said he would order a Nardi if I couldn't get it clean. Of course it cleaned right up. Here is a before shot.

Untitled by Nick Wood, on Flickr

And some 50/50s of it clean.

Untitled by Nick Wood, on Flickr

Not perfect but it will work until we get a Nardi.

Untitled by Nick Wood, on Flickr

[tracer bullet]

Was that wrap a stock thing that you want to keep? Or is it just more comfortable for now.

I remember them being aftermarket DIY things, I put one on my parent's Mazda as a kid.

[MPOWER5266]

Originally Posted by tracer bullet

Was that wrap a stock thing that you want to keep? Or is it just more comfortable for now.

I remember them being aftermarket DIY things, I put one on my parent's Mazda as a kid.

No its an aftermarket thing probably from the 80's. It just kinda works in the car. I might change my mind when the interior is fully installed though.

[chassis]

The vinyl wrap is the right period vibe in my view.

[MPOWER5266]

Originally Posted by chassis

The vinyl wrap is the right period vibe in my view.

I would much rather have a Nardi but I think this will work. We found out the bumpers are going to be a little more than we thought to get them chromed so the steering wheel is on the back burner. I think it will look okay, worse case I can pull if off and it will match the wheel in my 02.

[MPOWER5266]

Mega small E9 update. I didnt like the idea of the antenna being up anytime the radio was on, so my dad and I wired in a little switch.

Untitled by Nick Wood, on Flickr

Its in the little panel under the steering wheel and installed where the oem rear fog light switch would go. Basically we would always leave it off and if we wanted the radio on, give it a click to put the antenna up.

Untitled by Nick Wood, on Flickr

Wired in the radio.

Untitled by Nick Wood, on Flickr

And did a test fit of the side panels.

Untitled by Nick Wood, on Flickr

As you can see in the above photo there is a little damage in the drivers side panel near the AC vents. We are hoping we can clean this up a little.

Untitled by Nick Wood, on Flickr

Stay tuned. More updates soon.

[MPOWER5266]

Another extremely small update. We got the damaged area on the center console fixed for now. We basically just cleaned it up a bit and glued down a piece of vinyl.

Untitled by Nick Wood, on Flickr

This is a short term fix. Eventually we will pull it and have an upholstery shop repair it properly, but I think it looks pretty good for now.

by Nick Wood, on Flickr

More to come this week, I think we will start putting the interior back in.

[MmmmmM2]

It's coming along! Keep up the good work!

[MPOWER5266]

Work is slow, so here is another small update. Shifter install. First we installed the rubber boot, which was torn and of course no longer available. We glued it back together.

Untitled by Nick Wood, on Flickr

Untitled by Nick Wood, on Flickr

Once dry, it was installed.

Untitled by Nick Wood, on Flickr

After that, the fresh leather boot was installed.

Untitled by Nick Wood, on Flickr

And buttoned it up with the knob.

Untitled by Nick Wood, on Flickr

Super small update I know but work is dead this week and I have a lot of free time at my desk. Haha

[fmc000]

Amazing!

[chassis]

The console is coming together nicely!

[MPOWER5266]

This is like eating an elephant at this point. Just small bites until its done. Center console is complete, and the window switches are installed.

Untitled by Nick Wood, on Flickr

We also found a little sticker to put over the digital display so the radio looks a little more period correct when off.

Untitled by Nick Wood, on Flickr

It covers the read out a little when its on, but Im just going to use bluetooth so it doesnt really bother me.

Untitled by Nick Wood, on Flickr

Like I said, "small bites."

[MPOWER5266]

Not much has happened on the E9. We have been waiting on parts and my dad has had some medical stuff(hes fine just kinda run down so I'm avoiding him.
I don't want to get him sick.) We did get a new old stock emblem for the trunk.

Untitled by Nick Wood, on Flickr

And found some knobs for the radio that look more "BMW."

Untitled by Nick Wood, on Flickr

So far 2021 has been pretty crazy but I am hoping this will be on the road by late Feb-early March. I am hoping some parts show up and I can get over this weekend to work on it.

[AR_Motorwerkz]

Coming along really well, keep it up OP!

[MPOWER5266]

Man kids take up a lot of your time.... Sorry there haven't been a ton of updates lately. I have been pretty busy and my dad has been working on the AC in the XJ Wagoneer, which requires the dash to be removed. We did finally get the E9 up on the lift to start fitting the headlights and work on some stuff underneath. This is a super small update but an important one.

My dad started by inspecting all the fenders and only found a small bit of surface rust in the drivers front. It looks worse in the photo then it does in real life. It will be encapsulated and touched up.

Untitled by Nick Wood, on Flickr

When we started this project, we didn't want a full resto. The plan was to fix it up enough to drive it and maybe flip it for a nicer one later on. It ended up being easier to fully repaint, but we were still scared of the rockers. They have a cover on them, that we decided to leave on when we painted it(I wish we didnt) because if we found rust it would have made for a much bigger project. Well the covers did need to be repainted, the screws holding it in were rusty, and the car might go back to the body shop for some touch ups.... so we pulled them. It was a miracle.

Untitled by Nick Wood, on Flickr

Untitled by Nick Wood, on Flickr

Untitled by Nick Wood, on Flickr

Just a couple spots of surface rust, but no rot. I need to buy some lottery tickets. This will be treated and touched up, and not seen once the covers are installed. More soon.